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Technology spotlight Advances in technology
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MOVINGON
Relocations and expansions across Europe
Essentra opens purpose built warehouse near Oxford
Abrand new 3500m2 warehouse near Oxford has been opened by Essentra Components, until recently known as Moss Express. The purpose built distribution centre at the company’s principal manufacturing facility in Kidlington uses the latest technology, including wire guided forklift trucks.
Operating 24/7, the new facility will help ensure next day delivery for all products in the company’s new 876 page catalogue, as well as acting as a hub for its European distribution centre network.
The components business of Essentra is a global, market leading manufacturer and distributor of plastic injection moulded, vinyl dip moulded and metal items. Operating units in 25 countries serve a very broad industrial base of customers with a rapid supply of primarily plastic products for a variety of applications in industries such as hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical controls and construction. Visit:www.essentracomponents.co.uk
Unipart has opened a new manufacturing facility in Coventry to meet the demand for increasing volumes of its automotive fuel systems. It is the second new manufacturing facility to be opened by Unipart Manufacturing Group in the Coventry area.
Kautex Unipart Ltd (KUL), the joint venture between Unipart and its German partner Kautex Textron Gmbh, currently produces around 640,000 fuel tanks annually for leading automotive manufacturers such as Jaguar Land Rover, BMW and Honda. A recent investment in new technology, which offers customers greater levels of emission control, has enabled the company to increase production. As a result, KUL has opened a new 7500m2 facility called KUL2 to carry out assembly and sequencing operations. KUL Plant general manager Dave Pound said “We’ve invested some £6m to integrate new blow mould technology called a Next Generation Fuel System blow moulding machine. This will enable components such as valves and fuel lines to be placed inside fuel tanks more effectively, ultimately providing reduced vehicle static fuel emissions.” Visit: www.unipart.com Bauer Gear Motor, part of Altra Industrial Motion, has opened a new sales office in Finland which will act as the first point of contact for all of its Scandinavian customers. The office is located a few minutes away from Helsinki Airport to make direct access to customers throughout the region more readily available.
Michael Endermann, Bauer’s European sales director, comments: “Scandinavia is an important market for us and one that we believe has a lot of potential for further growth. A benefit of being part of Altra Industrial Motion is the stability this creates which affords us the opportunity to invest in new offices which, we believe, will improve our support services. This is an extremely exciting move for us and we look forward to using the opportunity to develop our customer relationships.” Visit: www.bauergears.com
Solvay has opened a new research & innovation centre in Singapore, which will be the group’s core innovation ground for its Consumer Chemicals growth engine in the Asia-Pacific region.
Located in Singapore’s Biopolis research hub, the 1100m2 laboratory will lead worldwide innovation projects primarily for Solvay’s business unit Novecare, which is active in the fields of Home and Personal Care, Coatings and Oil & Gas. It will also be a regional hub in developing sustainable solutions for the Agrochemical business and provide technical support to Solvay’s regional customers as well as plants in the region.
“Singapore has undergone an important transformation in recent years and is now established as a key knowledge and innovation hub in the Asia Pacific region,” said Pierre-Franck Valentin, vice-president & general manager of Solvay Novecare Asia Pacific. “Basing one of our global research & innovation centre in Singapore will allow us to benefit from the country’s research capabilities, ready infrastructure and strong intellectual property protection.” Visit: www.solvay.com
Unipart opens new manufacturing site in Coventry Bauer extends its services in Scandinavia
Solvay opens innovation centre in Singapore
Morgan Advanced Materials, a world leading manufacturer of highly engineered materials, has announced the creation of a Global Materials Centre of Excellence in Stourport, Worcestershire for structural ceramics materials and applications. Whether acting as general contractor or subcontractor, Rheinmetall International Engineering will plan and build industrial facilities, serving as a single-source supplier. Ferrostaal expects the joint venture to give its activities in these regions.
The Global Materials Centre of Excellence concept is tried and tested and builds upon the success of the Group’s now well established Global Fibre Research & Development (R&D) centre in Bromborough, Merseyside. Stourport was selected by Morgan from a shortlist of six international manufacturing locations, due in part to support from local MP Mark Garnier and Chancellor George Osborne, and will lead the group’s development of structural ceramics materials and applications. Visit: www.morganadvancedmaterials.com
